If you thought David Cameron made a fool of himself over tax... these MPs are even worse

Dennis Skinner, the Labour MP, is ejected from the Commons for referring to David Cameron as ‘Dodgy Dave’Credit:
STR/AFP/Getty Images

Even David Cameron has conceded that he “mishandled” last week’s questions about his tax affairs. His failure to answer them honestly from the start made him look shifty, or at the very least foolish.

But perhaps I’ve been too hard on him. Next to some of the MPs weighing in on the subject this afternoon, the Prime Minister looked a model of cool-headed competence.

Take Jeremy Corbyn – who, having pledged to lead by example and publish his own tax return, discovered that he’d mislaid it. When he finally published it, at 3.35pm yesterday, it was revealed that he’d filed it to HMRC a week late – thus incurring a fine of £100.

The Speaker said “dodgy” was not an acceptable word, and ordered Mr Skinner to withdraw it. Mr Skinner not only declined to do so, he repeated it, and then snapped, “Do what you like!” at the Speaker. The Speaker accepted this invitation, and threw Mr Skinner out of the chamber.

Some Left-wingers may think Mr Skinner’s recalcitrance heroic. Yet, if Mr Skinner had agreed to withdraw his pointless insult, Mr Cameron would have had to answer his question. But because Mr Skinner refused, he didn’t; the Speaker simply called for a question from another MP.

In other words: Mr Skinner’s fatheaded pride let Mr Cameron off the hook.

May I support the Prime Minister in fending off his critics – because if he doesn’t, we risk seeing the Commons stuffed with low-achievers

Sir Alan Duncan, Conservative MP for Rutland & Melton

Silliest of all, however, was Sir Alan Duncan (Con, Rutland & Melton). “Shouldn’t the Prime Minister’s critics really just snap out of their synthetic indignation,” he huffed, “and admit that their real point is that they hate anyone who’s even got a hint of wealth?”

Just what the Prime Minister needed. After a week of stories about the super-rich hiding billions offshore, up pops a colleague to suggest that anyone who doesn’t like it is just jealous.

But sillier was to come.

“I support the Prime Minister in fending off those who are attacking him,” Sir Alan continued hotly. “Because if he doesn’t, we risk seeing the Commons stuffed with low-achievers!”

There are two inferences to draw from Sir Alan’s outburst. One is that he thinks the Commons should only be “stuffed with” the rich. The second is that he thinks the vast majority of his constituents, not being rich, are “low-achievers”.

Probably not a view to advertise in his next election leaflet.

Yet Sir Alan, believe it or not, wasn’t finished there. The last thing the Commons needed, he sniffed, was MPs “who know nothing about the outside world”.